
15.16
Silberschatz, Galvin and Gagne ©2005
Operating System
C t
Spyware
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Spywareis a type ofmalwarethat can be installed oncomputers,
and which collects small pieces of information about users
without their knowledge.
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The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and
can be difficult to detect.
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Sometimes, however, spywares such askey loggers are installed
by the owner of a shared, corporate, orpublic computer on
purpose in order to secretly monitor other users.
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While the termspywaresuggests software that secretly monitors
the user's computing. Spyware programs can collect various
types of personal information, such asInternet surfinghabits and
sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user
control of the computer in other ways, such as installing
additional software and redirectingWeb browseractivity.
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Spyware is known to change computer settings, resulting in slow
connection speeds, different home pages, and/or loss
ofInternetconnection or functionality of other programs.